Ball game



June 16, 1925.

A. V. KLINK` BALL GAME Filed 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 16, 1925.

A. V. KLNK BALL GAME Filed Nov. 4, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet `5 mali/z R m w N O my n M A Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR V. KLINK, OF DANBURY, CONNECTICUT. I

BALL GAME.

Application filed November' To all 'whom it may cocern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR V. KLINK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danbury, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an'lmprovement in Ball Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a game particularly to a baseball game, and has for an object to provide an interesting and attractive game adapted for amusement parks and the like which will require certain skill in throwing a baseball and, therefore, similate to a certain extent some of the Operations of a real ball game.

With these and other objects in view I have devised the Construction and arrangenent illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which y Fig. l shows a double layout of the game.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the figures with the surrounding cabinet in section.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the figures.

.Fig. 4:, is a side elevation of the same.

v Figs.` 5 and 6 are side and front views respectively of one means of fastening the figures in position. o v I Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the bat to be employed in the game.

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan View thereof, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse section substantially V on line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

In the drawing 10 represents an enolosing cabinet of size and lengthdesired. In Fig. l I have shown a double layout, that is, two games in one, so that two' players may play simultaneously. Obviously, however, a single layout nay be employed if desired depending upon the space available and the expense that is to be incurred. The cabinet encloses the layout on all sdes except the front where the players stand and the side walls may, if desired, be painted to' represent grandstands filled with people or in any other manner. Or, if preferred, canvas may be hung at the rear and sides and painted to represcnt grandstands. In a single layout there are three figures preferably life size, a batter 11, catcher 12 and umpire 13, located in substantially the positions they occupy in a real gane, the batter standing at one side of the home plate 14:, facing the itcher, who is the player of the game, and holds the bat in position substantially as shown, over the' home plate. The catcher is c ted immed a y behind the ba t 4, 1922. Serial No. 599,055.

and is slightly stooped to resemble the catcher s position when a perfect strike is desired from the pitcher, and to the re'ar of the catcher is the umpire with his right hand upraised in position to call a strike. In the layout, as indicated in Fig.1,the lower side or fioor of the cabinet may be laid out in any manner desired, but I prefer that substantially as shown, in which the lines 15 are white, thespace 16 between thelines painted brown and the 'remaining space 17 green. This lower wall floor 18 is inclined downwardly toward the front, as shown in Fig. 2, so that afterthe balls are thrown they will automatically return to the front of the cabinet where thev are easily accessible to the players. At the forward end of the floor any suitable ball holding and stop means such as the wall 19 may be provided.

The figures may be constructed in various ways. I prefer, however,'to make them of rubber similar to the inner tubes of tires enclosed in a canvas or other suitwhich, when the rubber interior is infiated, will keep it in proper shape, a suitable inflating nipple 20 being provided in the backs of the figures. The figures are held upright by suitable posts 21 and belts 22 passing around the waists of the figures and secured to these posts, the posts being located behind the legs of the figures so as to be invisible from the front. The feet may be secured to the floor by any suitable or desirable means, but I have shown straps 23 passing through loops in the shoes and openings in the floor with the free ends buckled together. Due to the peculiar Construction of the figures as described, that is of infiated rubber when they are struck by thrown balls they will wobble in an amusing manner, which adds considerably to the entertainment providedby the game.

The bat, however, is of special construetion. A bat 24 is sawed in two atthe proper distance from the large end and the portions adjacent the cut are then'turned down, as shown at 25, for insertion in the cups 26 on the opposite sides of a ring 27, which ring is preferably 10 or 12 inches in diameter, and has a rubberpad 28 on the forward edge thereof to protect the balls from injury should they hit against this ring, or this rubber covering may extend entirely over the ring as desired. The sections of the bat are secured in the cups 26 by any suitab e me ns such, as bo ts 2 n the rear edge of the ring are mounted a pair of rods 30 having hooks 31 on which is Suspended a metal plate 32 in alignment with the opening in the ring so that it will ring when hit by a ball passing through the ring in the bat, indicating that the ball has passed through this ring. The plate is located a suflicient distance from the rear ofthe ring to allow the ball to drop through. The bat is held in position by suitable means such as a strong bracket 33 secured to the post 21 at the rear of the batter with the end of the bat extending through a loop in a second bracket 33' secured on post 21 and is so secured as to be held in proper position and prevented from turning. The hands of the batter are to grip the bat and be secured thereto by any suitable means such as rubber bands secured to the hands through which the bat passes.

The object of the game is for a person playing to try and strike the batter out by pitching balls through the hole in the bat held by the batter. Prizes may be offered for each strike pitched or special prizes for strikeouts at theoption of the owner of the game as is customary in similar games. As an additional feature small wire baskets 3% may be placed certain distances from the figures and p'izes offered for balls falling into certain baskets after having struck the bat, and one basket may count for a single hit, another for a double and so forth. The baskets should have an opening in the bottom thereof to allow the balls to drop through and return to the forward end of the ca'binet.

hen a double layout is used, as indcated in Fig. l, it is preferred that one of the batters be made to represent a right handed batter and the other a left handed batter, although of course, they may be made as desired.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. A game apparatus comprising figures of ball playersiarranged to represent a batter, a catcher and an umpire in their nor-- mal positions, and a bat held in front of the catcher provided with a ring in an uprght position.

2. A game apparatus conprising figures of ball players to represent a batter, a catcher and an umpire arranged in positions such players normally assume at the home plate, and a bat for the batter extending forwardly therefrom over the home plate and provided with an upright ring facing in 'the direction of a pitcher.

3. A game apparatus comprising a figure representing a batter in batting position at the home plate, and a bat for said [igure extending over said plate and having an upright ring facing in the direction of a pitcher.

4. A game apparatus comprising a figure. representing a batter in batting position at the home plate, a bat for said figure extending over the plate and having an upright ring facing in the direction of a ptcher, and a sounding plate positioned t-o the rear of said ring and in alignment therewith.

5. A game apparatus comprising a figure representing a batter in batting position at the home plate, a bat for said figure extending over the plate and having an upright ring facing in the direction of a pitcher, a. support extending rearwardly from said ring, and a sounding plate carried by said support in the rear of the ring and in alignment with the opening through said ring.

6. A game apparatus comprising a cabinet, figures positioned adjacent one end of the cabinet and arranged to represent a batter, a catcher, and an umpire grouped at the home plate, a bat arranged as held by the batter and provided with a ring facing in the direction of a pitcher with respect to said group, and neans whereby balls thrown at the group will be automatically returned to the, front of the cabinet.

7. A, game apparatus comprising a cabinet, fi 'ures positioned adjacent one end of the oabinet and arranged to represent a batter, a catcher, and an umpire grouped at the home plate, a bat arranged as held by the batter and provided with a ring facing in the direction of a pitcher with respect to said group, and a plurality of open topped receptacles arranged forwardly of said figures.

8. A game apparatus coinprising figures arranged to represent a batter, a catcher, and an umpire grouped at the home plate in their normal positions, and a device arranged in front of the batter over the home plate at which balls are to be thrown, said figures comprising in'lated' rubber figures enelosed by cloth suits to represent respectively base ball players and unpi res uniforms.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature,

ARTHUR V. KLINK. 

